Meet my Mulberry Faux-Lexa

I thought that it was about time that everyone got to meet my *cough cough* Mulberry Alexa shoulder clutch.

Okay, so for those eagle-eyed Mulberry fans out there you can probably notice the instant fail when it comes to my *almost* perfect copy. Yes - as my sister very kindly pointed out: a) the clasp is too shiny, and more importantly b) lacking that iconic mulberry tree.

I forked over £4o (talked down from £80!) on a rainy night in Thailand and haven't regretted it once. Its real leather, has monogrammed lining, real buckles at the front and even if it wasn't bought for its lookalike qualities is a very chic bag in its own right.

I won't be wearing it into the Mulberry shop any time soon (cringe) but I'm just glad that I've managed to get a piece of the Alexa pie - even if I can't stand its namesake.

Along with my faux-ban clubmasters my counterfeit portfolio is beginning to look a little more impressive.

Check out the real version here.

The new way to carry your bag…

For this coming spring, its not about what bag you've got, its about how you carry it. We know that in these cash-poor times that it is almost impossible to get your hands on any of the coveted new designer lovelies. Where once we could have justified that once a year splurge on a gorgeous Mulberry or Chloe or even Balenciaga (If you don't work in media). Now is definitely not the time.

Lucky for us then that designers felt that they would for once make an inclusive trend, one that all women are more than able to follow, and the ultimate day-to-night switch… the bag as clutch trend. No less than 25 designers had their models carry bags neatly tucked under their arms, or scrunched in a fist, straps flying free. No bag was too large, no strap was too long. Dolce and Gabbana and Vuitton even embellished their straps with beading and intricate decorations, which render the strap useless, but as it is only for show this season, all the more reason to make it look lovely. Even totes were given the B-A-C treatment at Michael Kors and Graeme Black where they were super sized and then neatly folded in half. Prada my personal favourite, had super soft scrunched leather bags which were carried sideways (see above) perhaps they did look a tad silly, but one look at the leather and you’d be wanting to carry it in your fist too.

So what it comes down to is: is this do-able? Completely. Practical? Potentially tricky, especially if you do it a la Prada. Super super style forward? Definitely.

I'm Obsessed!

I know that the "It" bag is supposedly dying a rather deserved death, but somehow i'm finding it hard to jump on that particular negative bandwagon. I have never really lusted after the Paddingtons or Birkins of this world, my main obsession is definitely Mulberry. A quintessential English brand which has so far managed to avoid becoming overly cheapened by the likes of WAGs and cut price knock-offs. The reason for this is probably that although paying £700 for a bag is somewhat excessive, in price at least, it doesn't really hold a candle to its £2000 competitors. Mulberry is the girl next door, beautiful and yet at a push obtainable by a regular person on a regular salary. The gorgeous redesigned "Roxanne" which is now a giant vinyl shopper, a sidestep from their traditional leather designs, and is in my opinion patent perfection. I know I shouldn't, I know that even £400 is far too much for something which essentially is still just a bag, but it's still on my wish list. So as I shall most probably not ever own it, I have provided a photo for everyone's viewing pleasure!